Kalladka tense as group clashes erupt during Congress meet; Section 144 clamped

Kalladka tense as group clashes erupt during Congress meet; Section 144 clamped

Mangalore Today News Network

 Bantwa, Mar 9, 2014l :  Tension prevailed  in  Kalladka town on March 8, Saturday after  clashes erupted between two groups  during a  meeting organised by the Congress. Ironically, the rival groups clashed right in the presence of District in-charge Minister Ramanatha Rai and other Congress leaders who had to remain helpless as the groups hurled soda bottles and stones at each other.

 

 

 

 

People who ran helter skelter and shops too have downed their shutters.  Police had to resort to a lathi charge  and burst tear gas to bring the situation under control.Prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped to prevent any further eventuality.

Several shops and a police vehicle were damaged in the clashes. Even Bantwal SI Sanjith Kalkura  and another youth who were injured in the stoning   had to be hospitalised. Additional police forces have been rushed to the spot. It has been learnt that several  vehicles too have been damaged while miscreants have set ablaze a Qualis car and a bike at Kelaginapete.

The Panemangalore Block Congress and the Goltamajalu unit of the Congress had organised a  meeting at Melinapete Junction of Kalladka. District Minister Ramanatha Rai, Congress leaders BH Khader, Harikrishna Bantwal, Mamatha Gatti, Chandrashekhar Shetty, Mithun Rai,  Hemanath Shetty, and others were seated on the dais and over 250 party workers too had attended the meeting.

Trouble began when ZP member Chandraprakash Shetty in his introductory address launched a scathing attack on senior RSS leader  Kalladka Prabhaker Bhat.Very soon a group which arrived at the venue asked the police to  stop the speech of the leader leading to a verbal duel with the police personnel.

At this juncture, youth Congress workers attending the meeting came out and both groups  engaged in a clash  right in front of the police who were in no position to control them. Very soon it was a war like scene in Kalladka and the situation was brought under control after much efforts.

SP Dr RSharanappa,  too arrived and  monitored the situation. Security has been tightened in the area.